The Ringer's Zach Kram went bold, predicting a Cy Young Award for James Paxton after a breakout 2017 season. "I picked Paxton as my breakout player last year, and he’s my Cy Young choice now," Kram wrote. "If the pattern holds, he’ll be my MVP selection in 2019."

The Ringer's Zach Kram went bold, predicting a Cy Young Award for James Paxton after a breakout 2017 season. "I picked Paxton as my breakout player last year, and he’s my Cy Young choice now," Kram wrote. "If

The staff at Yahoo Sports wasn't particularly high on the M's, with three of six panelists forecasting a last-place finish in the division. Mike Oz was the highest on the Mariners, predicting a second-place finish that still leaves Seattle out of the playoffs.

The staff at Yahoo Sports wasn't particularly high on the M's, with three of six panelists forecasting a last-place finish in the division. Mike Oz was the highest on the Mariners, predicting a second-place

Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight gave Seattle a 26 percent chance of ending the team's 16-year-and-counting playoff drought, with just a 10 percent chance of winnning the division for the first time since 2001.

Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight gave Seattle a 26 percent chance of ending the team's 16-year-and-counting playoff drought, with just a 10 percent chance of winnning the division for the first time since 2001.

OK, it's not all bad news! MLB.com's Joe Posnanski predicted M's catcher Mike Zunino would establish himself as an All-Star in 2018. "He's been a monster this spring," Posnanski wrote. "It might be Zunino time in Seattle."

OK, it's not all bad news! MLB.com's Joe Posnanski predicted M's catcher Mike Zunino would establish himself as an All-Star in 2018. "He's been a monster this spring," Posnanski wrote. "It might be Zunino time

Back to the bad news: Only one of the five CBS Sports staffers (Dayn Perry) predicted the Mariners will finish above fourth in the AL West.

Back to the bad news: Only one of the five CBS Sports staffers (Dayn Perry) predicted the Mariners will finish above fourth in the AL West.

Photo: Elaine Thompson/AP

Back to the bad news: Only one of the five CBS Sports staffers...photo-12701189.179961 - |ucfirst

The New York Post's Ken Davidoff predicted the M's rebuild will begin in earnest during the season. "The Yankees ... will acquire impressive lefty James Paxton from the Mariners, who will finally acknowledge the need to get off their hamster wheel and take a step back in order to take three steps forward," he wrote.

The New York Post's Ken Davidoff predicted the M's rebuild will begin in earnest during the season. "The Yankees ... will acquire impressive lefty James Paxton from the Mariners, who will finally acknowledge

We'll give SB Nation's Grant Bisbee the final word on the 2018 Mariners predictions. "They will always disappoint you," he wrote. "They are Jason Robards’ drifter son in Parenthood, the one who means well and is always trying to do the right thing, but will sell your 1935 Ford Model 48 while you’re asleep. Do not trust the Mariners."

We'll give SB Nation's Grant Bisbee the final word on the 2018 Mariners predictions. "They will always disappoint you," he wrote. "They are Jason Robards’ drifter son in Parenthood, the one who means well and